W. T. Stace was born in London in 1886. He was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh, and at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated in philosophy. he served in the Ceylon Civil Service from 1910 - 1932 and was at one time Mayor of Colombo. In 1929, Mr Stace obtained a D.Litt from Trinity College, Dublin. In 1932 he went to Princeton University as a lecturer and was Professor of Philosophy there from 1935 until his retirement.
Stace's principal concern in the books reproduced here has been to establish a philosophical basis for religion and for an objective moral order, in a world increasingly and perhaps uncritically removed from both in the prevailing climate of scientific thought. His basic point is that a "scientific" world-view, built on principles of causation does not necessarily close the door on a world-view built on notions of teleology or purpose. The two are not mutually exclusive.
For Stace, a subjective, relativist morality is not an option.
While in many respects his work is now "of the past", his ideas, as lucidly expounded as any in philosophy, hold up the areas of mysticism, religion, morals and science to a very clear light and both works are well worth the read, though increasingly difficult to find in libraries, and unlikely to be reprinted.
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